The Bath Rugby International Round-Up: Part 2

16 February 2015

Bath Rugby fared better on the international stage than in the Aviva Premiership this weekend, with each of its representative players tasting success in the colours of their country.

First to Twickenham on Saturday, where Bath's quartet of players on England duty - Dave Attwood, George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson - were very much to the fore once again, this time against Italy. Where last week it was Ford who took Man of the Match, this time it was Joseph, who scored two outrageously good tries and made the most metres for England. Ford contributed 15 points in a 47-17 rout of the Azzurri.

"We've always known [Jonathan] had it in him but he's doing it on a consistent basis now," said England's attacking skills coach Mike Catt. "He's taken his chance and taken it well. Where he is at mentally his confidence is exceptionally high. That's credit to what Bath are doing. They're playing his type of game. He's started enjoying himself again."

The previous evening, Bath Rugby Academy lock Charlie Ewels skippered the England U20s to an even more pronounced victory against their Italian counterparts at Brickfields, the home of Plymouth Albion. Ewels' men ran out 61-0 winners, while Academy fly-half Rory Jennings converted six of the nine tries.

"We're delighted to get the win," said Ewels after the match. "We were pretty gutted after the loss against Wales but we looked at that game, took the learnings and moved on to Italy. So to get this win was special – the lads fronted up, responded well and we're chuffed to get the result."

Against Scotland at Murrayfield, loosehead Paul James came off the bench to win a vital penalty for Wales that helped secure an exhilarating 23-26 win for Warren Gatland's men. Bath Rugby Foundation's Wales Women international Caryl Thomas also made it a double for her country, starring in their 3-39 defeat of Scotland Women.

With England off to a flying start in the Six Nations, Bath Rugby are putting on an exclusive trip to Dublin for their clash with Ireland on Sunday 1st March. For just £620 per person, you could be travelling to the Aviva Stadium to watch the big match.